Caption

Red-figure bottle with a scene of the punishment of Marsyas, red-figure Greek pottery, 330–310 BC. Vessel glued from several fragments; minor additions on the neck, flaking of white and yellow retouches covering the silhouette of Silenus. Between the ornamental bands covering the lower half of the neck and belly, a scene depicts the punishment of Marsyas. Marsyas sits on the field of a cloak, the other end of which covers his right thigh. The lower part of his torso faces left, while the upper part, with his hands tied to a tree in front, faces right toward Apollo standing next to him. Apollo stands beside a table on a platform, holding a lyre placed on it, and in his right hand holds a taenia, a symbol of victory, which flutters above Silenus's head. A Scythian stands before Marsyas, using a knife held in his right hand, and begins to flay him. The scene is complemented by three satyrs and a column with an oval object omphalos?. The composition illustrates the musical agon between Apollo lyre and Marsyas aulos, reflecting the importance of competition in Greek life. Bottle vessel, height 26 cm, width 13.5 cm, weight 0.67 kg; provenance: Apulia, Basilicate., The image shows a tall, narrow-necked ceramic vase with a rounded body and a flared rim, decorated in black and a pale beige color. The neck features vertical beige stripes on a black background leading to a band of repeating beige teardrop shapes. The main body displays a beige scene on a black field with figures and objects rendered in the pale beige tone; one figure stands beside a small table-like object and another figure is seated or reclining nearby. A tall, column-like object appears between the figures. Below the scene is a horizontal decorative band of circular floral rosette motifs in beige on black, and beneath that another band of repeating teardrop motifs. The base and rim show areas of dark brown to black, and there are small spots of wear where the beige underlayer is visible. The overall visib

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A01_304

License type

Rights managed

Available size

62.3Mb (5.0Mb) / 12.4in x 19.5in / 3714 x 5862 (300dpi)

Keywords

Red-figure bottle scene punishment Marsyas red-figure Greek pottery 330–310 Bc Vessel glued several fragments minor additions neck flaking white yellow retouches covering silhouette Silenus ornamental bands covering lower half belly scene depicts Marsyas sits field cloak covers right thigh lower part torso faces left upper part hands tied tree front faces right Apollo standing next stands beside table platform holding lyre placed right hand holds taenia symbol victory flutters Silenus's head Scythian stands using knife held right hand begins flay complemented three satyrs column oval object omphalos composition illustrates musical agon Apollo lyre Marsyas aulos reflecting importance competition Greek life Bottle vessel height 26 cm width 13.5 cm weight 0.67 kg provenance Apulia Basilicate image tall narrow-necked ceramic vase rounded body flared rim decorated black pale beige color features vertical stripes black background leading band repeating teardrop shapes main body displays beige scene black field figures objects rendered tone figure small table- another figure seated reclining nearby column- horizontal decorative band circular floral rosette motifs beneath another band repeating teardrop motifs base rim areas dark brown small spots wear beige underlayer visible visible colors dark brown.